At least 20 evacuated from apartments in northern Aberdeen

November 27, 2007|By Emily Arthur-Richardt, earthur@aberdeennews.com

At least 20 people were evacuated from their apartments in northern Aberdeen early Monday morning after a man with a knife threatened to kill himself and others around him, authorities said. Officers from the Aberdeen Police Department and the Brown County Sheriff's Office responded to the Rockford Apartment complex at 1011 N. Second St. at about 1:22 a.m. Monday. Capt. Dave McNeil of the Aberdeen Police Department said authorities were called because a man who lived in one of the apartment buildings was threatening to kill other people in the complex. When officers arrived, the man appeared “highly agitated,” was armed with a knife and was making threats against himself and others, according to a news release from the Aberdeen Police Department. McNeil said officers immediately set up a perimeter around the area, and the Special Response Team, the crisis response team and Aberdeen Fire and Rescue responded. The apartment building where the man was, and a few of the neighboring apartment buildings were evacuated, McNeil said. He estimated about 20 to 30 people were directed to a safe area. McNeil said many of the people evacuated left the location, while others waited. Officers and crisis negotiators made contact with the man and persuaded him to surrender about 3:45 a.m., McNeil said. No one was injured in the incident. The man has been detained for mental health reasons. Authorities are deciding whether any charges will be filed, McNeil said. Those evacuated were allowed back into their apartments once the threat was removed, McNeil said. Reporter Emily Arthur-Richardt; (605) 622-2314 or 1-800-925-4100 ext. 314; earthur@aberdeennews.com